European Union refused to pay Ukraine gas debts

The EU does not intend to repay the debts of Ukraine for Russian gas, according to the head of the European Commission’s Directorate for Energy Dominique Ristori, reports RIA Novosti.

Responding to a question about whether the EU is considering the possibility of paying debts for Ukraine Ristori shook his head and said that the EU has rendered an important macro-financial assistance. “We are also in close contact with the International Monetary Fund, to promote the reform of the energy market of Ukraine. That’s important,” – he said.

In mid-June the Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said that the situation with Russian gas supplies to Ukraine requires a political solution, including the possible payment of Ukrainian debts by EU. The Minister then said that the EU could eventually cover the debts of Ukraine due to the current economic weakness of the country.

Debt of the Ukrainian “Naftogaz” to Russia’s “Gazprom” has reached $ 5.3 billion including supplies delivered until June 16, when the country was transferred to prepay policy. EU-brokered talks ended in failure. Now the Ukrainian gas transport system only receives transit volumes of gas intended for Europe. This jeopardizes uninterrupted gas transit in the winter as Ukraine is likely to steal gas as its reserves dry up.

European Union in the current year has already transferred 600 million euro macro-financial assistance for Ukraine from the total 1.6 billion euros, promising remaining payments before year end. IMF on April 30 approved the allocation to Ukraine of more than $ 17 billion within two years of the stabilization program on stand by. The first tranche of this program – $ 3.16 billion was received by Kiev in early May.